For three days in May, 20 students from New Mexico and the surrounding region traveled to Las Cruces to learn about veterinary medicine and animal science at an overnight summer camp at New Mexico State University (NMSU). This event, hosted by NMSU’s Cooperative Extension Service in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, provided hands-on animal experience for 8th through 12th graders to explore career opportunities and tour facilities. In 2023, NMSU hosted a pair of similar camps.
“This camp is very intense and gives the participants an opportunity to work with and handle animals that they may have never had the chance to interact with,” said Shanna Ivey, head of the Animal and Range Sciences and Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources Department. “I hope the students take away an appreciation for veterinary medicine with food animals and horses. They hopefully gained skills that will be useful in preventing disease and treating wounds.”
“This is a well-rounded camp that exposes students to a wide variety of work associated with veterinary care and nutrition for production livestock and equine,” added Eric Scholljegerdes, an animal and range sciences professor.
“We had the opportunity to expose the students to some very different experiences, such as watching tissue being collected on research sheep in Dr. Ryan Ashley’s lab, breeding soundness exams on bulls, and vaccinating baby goats,” said Extension Veterinarian Dr. John Wenzel.
Participants gained experience with multiple species and areas. They were provided reusable kits to practice suturing, which they could continue using at home.
“For our area, we hope they see that veterinary medicine is not just prescribing drugs and taking vitals; rather it is a combination of nutrition, physical fitness (animal structure), genetics, and environment,” Scholljegerdes stated. “In combination, they will be able to accurately assess the health status of the animal and identify any underlying causes of illness.”
“The camp exposes the campers to careers related to veterinary medicine as well,” Wenzel noted. These careers include degrees in reproductive physiology, animal sciences, research opportunities, among others that allow them to stay close to animals without necessarily obtaining a doctorate in veterinary medicine.
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CUTLINE: Participants in the vet science camp at New Mexico State University listen to Extension Veterinarian Dr. John Wenzel during a presentation. NMSU hosted this hands-on animal experience for 20 8th through 12th graders from New Mexico and the local region. (Courtesy photo)